My take away from this is that the pentax ltd lens is more of a subject/portraiture lens with more pop with its better sharpness in the centre whereas the fuji is a better landscape lens as it gets the edges in focus more. Great review Li. Keep em coming. This channel is getting better and better. I notice the production quality is improving as time progresses.
Thanks Sub! Yup. I will say you are correct. I actually honestly didn't know what I was getting myself into. After doing 30 samples, It just became apparent that ya, If I was doing portraits, the 20-40 is excellent. If I was shooting out doors with the sun, I would use the Fuji with the edge sharpness and also the slight CA improvement. Overall, I love both lenses. The 20-40 is a wonderful lens after so many years. I enjoy the ergonomics and build. Its a good looking lens as well. The Fuji is lighter and its great for hand hold filming. I really have to say, they are both pretty good lenses. I'm baffled. Usually I take a stand on something but this a first! lol.. cheers Sub!
Thanks for the Fuji Pentax comparison. I've been a Pentax user for 25 years and I obviously like the brand. Now I own a Fuji xt2 too, and it is just fun to shot with it. And I think both systems have their pros and cons. What bothers me about fuji is that the raw files (raf) are displayed much worse in lightroom than in capture one. I wonder if it would be fairer to compare the pentax dng in lightroom with the capture one raf files. which of course would mean more effort. Apart from the fact that you first have to make beautiful compositions with both lenses to get beautiful pictures. Thanks for any Fuji and Pentax reviews, it always a pleasure to watch.
That is actually up ahead in one of my videos. I do use capture one for my Fuji files for youtube demo. For work, I use capture one. We can uncover this all together as I am only 1 month into Fuji. I have a lot to discover.
Yup! Its really good. I notice when reading on this lens, it was refer as a kit but gosh it really is a nice all rounder lens. Actually when I saw you talking about the lens, I was like okay, this is the one to get first :D.
Good review. I had to force myself to put the 20-40 Ltd down once in a while coz I used it all the time. Love the sharpness, love the weather sealing, ergonomics and the old school look. The only other lens that comes close to the 20-40 in terms of optical performance imo is the Sigma 17-50 f2.8. Sadly that one isn’t weather sealed and has a crappy hood. Also the zoom ring on the Sigma is not as smooth as the one on the Pentax. Other than that it’s fine. Peace
The Pentax dates back to 2013. Even back then many of the early reviews highlighted the unspectacular edge sharpness. No problems with the centre though which were well up to expectations for a limited lens. In the real world, many Pentaxians who bought the lens were thoroughly pleased with it. It's a really nice walk around lens and a satisfying piece of quality kit to hold in your hand. Seeing it up against the newer Fuji, it hasn't aged badly at all.
Yup, I use the 20 - 40 as a walk around. I live in the northwest so it rains a lot here. But yea it is a very fun lens to use and to be still sharp in the center after all these years was actually shocking. I hope this doesn't increase the ebay pricing. lol. This is why It was my work horse the last year + . I just saw something I like in the 20-4- and damn, it actually held up nicely. I think in my test I was thinking oh boy, old lens vs new lens, lets do this.. haha.
@@theCameraVille The 20-40 is a unicorn lens, no other camera manufacturer have that except from the Tri-elmar from Leica. But before I bought that lens I was also considering to shift to Fujifilm, because their 18-55 kit lens alone is a good reason to start up with the system. Both are sharp lenses, but different price points. The Pentax have WR, but the Fuji has better range.
I recently bought the 20-40mm for my KP and after 10 years using Pentax this is the beat lens i have ever used! I am about to buy the new Fuji XE4 soon and i am planning to use the pentax lens on the fuji ☺️
Both are great variable aperture zoom lenses. I've owned both. The only thing I couldn't stand about the 20-40 was its ridiculous mini lens hood! Other than that, it was a great travel lens.
Great review. I think it's kind of misleading that other reviews regard the Fuji as a 'kit lens' when its build quality, price point, and performance seems to indicate otherwise. Especially interesting when it's beside the Pentax that's regarded as a 'Limited Lens' but they're somewhat similar in every aspect...
Oh yea , folks refer it as the kit lens which is interesting. It has great build and very flexible when being a hybrid shooter. Its a very well balance lens. Yea, when comparing the Pentax, it was very tiny difference. I wish there was a huge difference but just a hair on the center sharpness, a hair on the CA, and the rest is the same in IQ. I wish I can say something that ruffle feathers but nope.
I kept waiting for some shots at the other end of the zoom spectrum. What does 20mm look like between the two? The aperture goes wider, so that could be a factor, too. Was this with or without lens correction turned on? And the playground shots were interesting because the Fuji was just darker in a lot of spots. Yes, it looked warmer on the ground, but some details looked lost in the shadows - interesting.
yea! Get it used on ebay! Don't buy it new! I think I can flip a coin for either one. If you are doing 4k video , of course the Fuji but both lenses are great for photo. Crazy enough the Pentax held up nice after all these years.
Great comparison side by side. KP holds it’s own even after all this time. Along awaited test of 20-40mm lense. I’ve owned this for a while and it’s my go to for most occasions. Love the review Li so others can be confident getting hold of this fine lense. Deserving of a full standalone review
That was actually on my mind. I was thinking about doing a standalone 20-40 after this just because it held up pretty well. I was amazed. I don't know what I was seeing for a year and half while using it as my daily work horse. I never compared the lens to any other lens until this review. I just like the way it looked and there you go. That Micro Contrast was the key. Great ergonomics as well and weather seal. Still a great lens for 2020.
I’ll never knock other camera systems just appreciate their different approach and target audience always wishing Pentax and parent Ricoh would address some of the core weaknesses but as for lense and still photography weather sealing ibis and the tools you need to take great photos I’ll always remain positive for the brand
In the end all the reviews have the same conclusion: there is no bad gear at this level. You can shoot even with an old 50mm f2.0 PK lens (not the sharpest, but because the light does not hit the sensor perpendicularly) you can obtain different effects. Have tried a lot and owned a lot but in the end the king is the 18-35 f1.8 from Sigma (I tried: 18-55 kit, 28-75 Tamron 2.8, 18-70 Sigma 2.8-4 and even 24-70), from the time they were cool :))
@@theCameraVille I have 50 f2.0 manual and 50 f1.7 A (manual but on some bodies the aperture is on Auto). Pictures are a bit noisy but I like "the vintage grain". I liked them so much I still have them, even though I bought 2 digital: 50 f1.8 Pentax (sharp but lazy focusing) and 50 f1.4 Sigma (old variant before the Art, that is too soft). I even had a 50 f1.9 on M42, that did not survived :) They all have a weakness, but if you have time to play (that I don't anymore) you can obtain unique pictures :)
I have to give it to the Fuji when it comes to ergonomics and dial layout. I have a hard time remembering the button layout of the Pentax when I don't use the camera for some time.
That’s just a familiarity thing. I’ve been shooting Pentax DSLRs since 2004 and the control ergonomics are embedded in the subconscious (and gets good marks from testers) but when I pick up my Olympus OM-D (which I’ve owned for a few years) I feel lost with the controls, the zoom ring rotates in the wrong (opposite) direction etc. . It’s all just familiarity though
@@shred3005 My perfect camera: Shutter dial, ISO dial, F stop ring or dial, PC X connector. 250 sync. Focus assist with split screen, Auto or shutter/Aperture priority or video only if you want it.
That's strange, I tested two copies of 20-40 on my K-3II and both had a pretty strong field curvature that make impossible to me to have edges in focus at 40mm. Look like you manage to get the edge sharp and in focus, I should either had two bad copies or I don't know how to focus with this lens.... Or a bad body...
What has amazed me the most with 20-40 was flare resistance, just perfect. WR is a little useless as there is no hood so I don't know how it is possible to take photos under rain. Bokeh is excellent with this lens, but sharpness was not as good as good old limited primes. Overall I do not keep the lens as it is not a good landscape lens (field curvature, medium sharpness and bad starbursts).
Pentax is much better in terms of dynamic range and bokeh, Fuji put too much exphasize on the bokeh, but this put sharpness aside, the Pentax 20-40 has good bokeh especially the foreground which is always lacked by other brands, thank you, I started to know the worthless of 20-40
I have a Pentax A 35-70mm lens with f/4 through the zoom range with macro. It has only 7 elements and it is a great lens. They go for less then $50 dollars on Ebay. I would be curios how it compares with modern lenses. 7 to 9 elements is a sweet spot (micro contrast) but not when it comes to edge sharpness it seems.
david ellis Dunno . I guess the word kit is more looked as a cheap made lens. This is very different . Also new nikon Z mount kit lenses starts around 300 usd. Maybe kit lens in mirrorless world means $$
My take away from this is that the pentax ltd lens is more of a subject/portraiture lens with more pop with its better sharpness in the centre whereas the fuji is a better landscape lens as it gets the edges in focus more. Great review Li. Keep em coming. This channel is getting better and better. I notice the production quality is improving as time progresses.
Thanks Sub! Yup. I will say you are correct. I actually honestly didn't know what I was getting myself into. After doing 30 samples, It just became apparent that ya, If I was doing portraits, the 20-40 is excellent. If I was shooting out doors with the sun, I would use the Fuji with the edge sharpness and also the slight CA improvement. Overall, I love both lenses. The 20-40 is a wonderful lens after so many years. I enjoy the ergonomics and build. Its a good looking lens as well. The Fuji is lighter and its great for hand hold filming. I really have to say, they are both pretty good lenses. I'm baffled. Usually I take a stand on something but this a first! lol..
cheers Sub!
Thanks for the Fuji Pentax comparison. I've been a Pentax user for 25 years and I obviously like the brand. Now I own a Fuji xt2 too, and it is just fun to shot with it. And I think both systems have their pros and cons. What bothers me about fuji is that the raw files (raf) are displayed much worse in lightroom than in capture one. I wonder if it would be fairer to compare the pentax dng in lightroom with the capture one raf files. which of course would mean more effort. Apart from the fact that you first have to make beautiful compositions with both lenses to get beautiful pictures. Thanks for any Fuji and Pentax reviews, it always a pleasure to watch.
That is actually up ahead in one of my videos. I do use capture one for my Fuji files for youtube demo. For work, I use capture one. We can uncover this all together as I am only 1 month into Fuji. I have a lot to discover.
Nice comparison. I'm noticing that more and more 'kit' lenses are overall great quality now.
Yup! Its really good. I notice when reading on this lens, it was refer as a kit but gosh it really is a nice all rounder lens. Actually when I saw you talking about the lens, I was like okay, this is the one to get first :D.
Good review. I had to force myself to put the 20-40 Ltd down once in a while coz I used it all the time. Love the sharpness, love the weather sealing, ergonomics and the old school look. The only other lens that comes close to the 20-40 in terms of optical performance imo is the Sigma 17-50 f2.8. Sadly that one isn’t weather sealed and has a crappy hood. Also the zoom ring on the Sigma is not as smooth as the one on the Pentax. Other than that it’s fine. Peace
hahaha nice!
The Pentax dates back to 2013. Even back then many of the early reviews highlighted the unspectacular edge sharpness. No problems with the centre though which were well up to expectations for a limited lens. In the real world, many Pentaxians who bought the lens were thoroughly pleased with it. It's a really nice walk around lens and a satisfying piece of quality kit to hold in your hand. Seeing it up against the newer Fuji, it hasn't aged badly at all.
AndrewFernandez I own the 20-40, that lens is really imeasurable 😜
Yup, I use the 20 - 40 as a walk around. I live in the northwest so it rains a lot here. But yea it is a very fun lens to use and to be still sharp in the center after all these years was actually shocking. I hope this doesn't increase the ebay pricing. lol. This is why It was my work horse the last year + . I just saw something I like in the 20-4- and damn, it actually held up nicely. I think in my test I was thinking oh boy, old lens vs new lens, lets do this.. haha.
@@theCameraVille The 20-40 is a unicorn lens, no other camera manufacturer have that except from the Tri-elmar from Leica. But before I bought that lens I was also considering to shift to Fujifilm, because their 18-55 kit lens alone is a good reason to start up with the system. Both are sharp lenses, but different price points. The Pentax have WR, but the Fuji has better range.
I recently bought the 20-40mm for my KP and after 10 years using Pentax this is the beat lens i have ever used! I am about to buy the new Fuji XE4 soon and i am planning to use the pentax lens on the fuji ☺️
nice!!
Both are great variable aperture zoom lenses. I've owned both. The only thing I couldn't stand about the 20-40 was its ridiculous mini lens hood! Other than that, it was a great travel lens.
yup. Wish the Lens hood on the 20-40 was a lot bigger. When comparing the lens with the lens hood. Fuji can give better overall image.
Great review. I think it's kind of misleading that other reviews regard the Fuji as a 'kit lens' when its build quality, price point, and performance seems to indicate otherwise. Especially interesting when it's beside the Pentax that's regarded as a 'Limited Lens' but they're somewhat similar in every aspect...
Oh yea , folks refer it as the kit lens which is interesting. It has great build and very flexible when being a hybrid shooter. Its a very well balance lens.
Yea, when comparing the Pentax, it was very tiny difference. I wish there was a huge difference but just a hair on the center sharpness, a hair on the CA, and the rest is the same in IQ. I wish I can say something that ruffle feathers but nope.
_In a meeting so adds to watch later_
Excited for this one.
hahaha , the review is very unlike me but! hope you enjoy.
I kept waiting for some shots at the other end of the zoom spectrum.
What does 20mm look like between the two? The aperture goes wider, so that could be a factor, too. Was this with or without lens correction turned on? And the playground shots were interesting because the Fuji was just darker in a lot of spots. Yes, it looked warmer on the ground, but some details looked lost in the shadows - interesting.
Air Borden This is a mystical lens. One video isnt enough. Always have cliffhangers. More coming soon.
Good review Li. I have been wanting both lenses!
yea! Get it used on ebay! Don't buy it new! I think I can flip a coin for either one. If you are doing 4k video , of course the Fuji but both lenses are great for photo. Crazy enough the Pentax held up nice after all these years.
Great comparison side by side. KP holds it’s own even after all this time. Along awaited test of 20-40mm lense. I’ve owned this for a while and it’s my go to for most occasions. Love the review Li so others can be confident getting hold of this fine lense. Deserving of a full standalone review
That was actually on my mind. I was thinking about doing a standalone 20-40 after this just because it held up pretty well. I was amazed. I don't know what I was seeing for a year and half while using it as my daily work horse. I never compared the lens to any other lens until this review. I just like the way it looked and there you go. That Micro Contrast was the key. Great ergonomics as well and weather seal. Still a great lens for 2020.
I’ll never knock other camera systems just appreciate their different approach and target audience always wishing Pentax and parent Ricoh would address some of the core weaknesses but as for lense and still photography weather sealing ibis and the tools you need to take great photos I’ll always remain positive for the brand
In the end all the reviews have the same conclusion: there is no bad gear at this level. You can shoot even with an old 50mm f2.0 PK lens (not the sharpest, but because the light does not hit the sensor perpendicularly) you can obtain different effects. Have tried a lot and owned a lot but in the end the king is the 18-35 f1.8 from Sigma (I tried: 18-55 kit, 28-75 Tamron 2.8, 18-70 Sigma 2.8-4 and even 24-70), from the time they were cool :))
Oh my. My next videos is on the Pentax 50mm F2, vs 50mm 1.7 and 50 1.4. Don't you jinx it man~!
@@theCameraVille I have 50 f2.0 manual and 50 f1.7 A (manual but on some bodies the aperture is on Auto). Pictures are a bit noisy but I like "the vintage grain". I liked them so much I still have them, even though I bought 2 digital: 50 f1.8 Pentax (sharp but lazy focusing) and 50 f1.4 Sigma (old variant before the Art, that is too soft). I even had a 50 f1.9 on M42, that did not survived :) They all have a weakness, but if you have time to play (that I don't anymore) you can obtain unique pictures :)
I have to give it to the Fuji when it comes to ergonomics and dial layout. I have a hard time remembering the button layout of the Pentax when I don't use the camera for some time.
Oh Michael. you are a Fuji shooter~! Im teliing!~
That’s just a familiarity thing. I’ve been shooting Pentax DSLRs since 2004 and the control ergonomics are embedded in the subconscious (and gets good marks from testers) but when I pick up my Olympus OM-D (which I’ve owned for a few years) I feel lost with the controls, the zoom ring rotates in the wrong (opposite) direction etc. . It’s all just familiarity though
@@shred3005 My perfect camera: Shutter dial, ISO dial, F stop ring or dial, PC X connector. 250 sync. Focus assist with split screen, Auto or shutter/Aperture priority or video only if you want it.
20-40 pentax in silver is the best looking lens ever
Silver photo gear always takes better images.
Silver also gets scratched up easily.
@@theCameraVille yeah but outside of the super takumar lenses, silver 20-40 is just stunning....
That's strange, I tested two copies of 20-40 on my K-3II and both had a pretty strong field curvature that make impossible to me to have edges in focus at 40mm. Look like you manage to get the edge sharp and in focus, I should either had two bad copies or I don't know how to focus with this lens.... Or a bad body...
What has amazed me the most with 20-40 was flare resistance, just perfect. WR is a little useless as there is no hood so I don't know how it is possible to take photos under rain. Bokeh is excellent with this lens, but sharpness was not as good as good old limited primes. Overall I do not keep the lens as it is not a good landscape lens (field curvature, medium sharpness and bad starbursts).
Damn~! I have to take a look :D.
Pentax is much better in terms of dynamic range and bokeh, Fuji put too much exphasize on the bokeh, but this put sharpness aside, the Pentax 20-40 has good bokeh especially the foreground which is always lacked by other brands, thank you, I started to know the worthless of 20-40
You are welcome. Hope you enjoy the 20 - 40!
I have a Pentax A 35-70mm lens with f/4 through the zoom range with macro. It has only 7 elements and it is a great lens. They go for less then $50 dollars on Ebay. I would be curios how it compares with modern lenses. 7 to 9 elements is a sweet spot (micro contrast) but not when it comes to edge sharpness it seems.
Yup edge to edge maybe an issue but yea, the micro contrast is nice on the older lenses.
Nice review, I always knew that pentax do good cameras, even aps-c
my pleasure~
Dynamic range is visibly better on the Pentax.
Takuan This was never about the dynamic range or 4k features. This was based on lens only.
LOve your reviews
Thank you~!
I have the 35mm F/2.4 the corners are it's only weakness
oh ! interesting .. yea a lot of the corners seem to be the weak spots.
@@theCameraVille Here's an example using my K3ii and pixelshift imgur.com/gallery/tFZSUxV
@@slammermx nice picture
How can a kit lens be $4-500??
david ellis Dunno . I guess the word kit is more looked as a cheap made lens. This is very different . Also new nikon Z mount kit lenses starts around 300 usd. Maybe kit lens in mirrorless world means $$
@@theCameraVille I think your right!